Taunting


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diplomacy

I think diplomacy is more appropriate skill here since part of diplomacy skill is understanding different cultural customs. I would also require the language or give a mondo huge penalty without it. As a GM I would highly approve of this tactic though since it shows a different type of thinking and is entertaining.

I think the opposed check should be a Will Save since experience (and I guess sheer size and power to some extent) should let you have a greater chance of ignoring the taunting, and it should be wisdom based in any case to ignore it.

You can also give circumstance modifiers for a lot of things ... like if the characters are invading a holy area then the taunting might work better since you have ready made insults, or things like that. Or if it is a trained military band they are fighting they should get bonuses to resist the taunting for discipline, etc. etc.

Otherwise I think it's a nice idea.
 

I use Bluff for taunting, opposed by Sense Motive, but I only allow it to work against Chaotic or undisciplined opponents. Goblins, gnolls, and the stupider giants can be taunted, but most human-types are too smart to fall for such an obvious trick.

Think about it. You're Joe NPC, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with your comrades, fighting very dangerous opponents. You're mainly worrying about the tall guys in plate armor and the fire-chucking wizard. There's also a skinny dude with a guitar, standing off to the side, whom you're ignoring because he isn't trying to kill you. If that guy starts talking trash about your mother, are you going to turn your back on the fighter and charge straight over there? I don't think so.

If the party ever insists that all opponents be susceptible to taunting, I'll allow it. But then the bad guys get to do the same thing. After the fighter gets taunted into charging a storm giant, and the mage gets taunted by a bad guy with a Ring of Spell Turning, I'm sure they'll change their minds.
 

Hmm, perhaps it could be made like Intimidate (DC 10+target`s hit dice), but the target does also gain a will save (DC 5 or 10).
And Save bonus versus Compulsion should apply in thic case...
 

Sarcastro

This actually sounds very similar to Sarcastro, a bard character I haven't made yet who's going to take perform (insults).

In my campaign there are a number of feats that bards can take to get new types of bardic music... for quite a while I've been contemplating converting the old taunt spell (1e and 2e) into one of these bardic feats. But gosh, do I miss the slug (the old material component)!
 

Intelligence should also come into play. Just because someone calls me an uncoordinated white boy, does not mean that I will ignore his brutish friends and attack him. I would actually think it would have little effect to people already involved in combat.
 


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